gua sha

Did you know that your digestive system is comprised of 10 different organs that cover about 30 feet and contain over 20 different cell types? That’s a lot of specialized work happening in your torso!

If you’re having digestive issues, that means there could be a whole lot of places where the system isn’t working properly. Anything from a poor diet, to stress, to a bacterial infection, to inflammation of the digestive tract could be causing you loads (no pun intended) of problems. GERD, IBS, Celiac disease, and gallstones all stem from different digestive problems.

How holistic medicine can help digestive issues

Whatever the issue, the practice of acupuncture looks at your body as an entire system to determine the problem—including the 10 different digestive organs. That means that holistic medicine can be particularly helpful in diagnosing and treating a range of digestive issues.

A few of the common ways that digestive issues are treated with holistic medicine include:

A carefully curated diet

Across both Western and Eastern medicine, it’s understood that what we put into our bodies is a leading influence on the health of our guts. In fact, Chinese and Japanese herbal medicines have been used in East Asia for thousands of years to help manage and improve function of our digestion.

When combined with an improved, high-fiber and hydrated diet, herbal supplement provided by a holistic healer can go a long way.

Yoga or stretching

Just like with your muscles, your digestive system benefits from being opened and moved to stimulate energy into the system. Spinal twists in particular are helpful, as you can even imagine your organs being “wringed” clean.

Try this routine and check the others to help get your body and digestive system back on track.

Targeted bodywork techniques such as tui na (a style of massage similar to shiatsu) and gua sha (a scraping-style of massage with a dull object) have also been helpful to patients at Gracey Holistic Health.

Acupuncture

There are multiple acupuncture points on the body that relate specifically to each part of the digestive system, ranging from your hand, to your elbow, to your foot, and (yes) to your stomach. If you’re experiencing problems, try a few out for yourself:

Point 1, known as Conception Vessel (CV) 6 or termed the “sea of energy.” Two finger (thumb) widths directly below your belly button, slowly apply pressure with the tip of your finger. You can practice while sitting up or lying down.

Point 2, known as Large Intestine (LI) 4 or “union in the valley.” Place your thumb on the top of your other hand, in the hollow or raised muscular (hand gripped) space between your index finger and thumb. Make small circular motions with your thumb. Be sure not to clench your fist while pressing this point when treating it, as this could cause unneeded discomfort.

Or, come in and receive a more comprehensive treatment! My style of non-insertive acupuncture, Shakuju Therapy, is particularly effective for a range of digestive issues.

In addition to acupuncture and other holistic approaches noted above, complementary therapies, including moxibustion, magnets, essential oils and health and lifestyle changes can be quite beneficial in helping ease digestive problems.

In an earlier blog post, I’ve talked about how holistic medicine treats the mind and spirit in addition to the body. I’ve also mentioned how my practice offers acupuncture and other complementary treatments.

But what are these treatments? And how do they work to heal the body in ways that you might be unfamiliar with? Check out the list below to learn more:

Japanese, non-insertive, and auricular acupuncture

These styles of acupuncture differ in the size and shape of the needles, the way the practitioner uses the needles, as well as where the needles are stimulating the body.

Japanese acupuncture: The stimulation of acupuncture points throughout the body using thinner needles and a gentler technique with shallow insertion. Needles are generally placed on different points of the body along meridians.

Non-insertive (Shakuju Therapy) acupuncture: The stimulation of acupuncture points along the meridians of the body without insertion of the needle into the skin.

Auricular acupuncture: The stimulation of acupuncture points on the external ear surface for the treatment of health conditions throughout the body.

While we don’t necessarily think of stretching or dietary consultations as holistic treatments, there are numerous benefits to these that impact your health beyond your body.

Stretching: A natural therapeutic treatment to alleviate muscle or tendon tension. This includes kinesiology taping, which helps provides stability and support to muscles and other soft tissues by microscopically lifting and gently stretching the skin, and correspondingly increasing blood/lymph circulation and reducing inflammation.

Essential oils: The use of aromatic plant oils to elicit a certain physiological and psychological reactions from the body.

Fitness consultations: A service where your physical health is assessed to provide guidance for improving physical fitness, whether it be tai chi or more traditional forms of exercise like jogging to lifting weights.

Dietary consultations: A service where your physical health is assessed to provide guidance for improving food choices and eating habits.

Moxibustion, tui na, gua sha, reiki, and cupping

Some holistic healing services are still unfamiliar in the western medicine vocabulary. While less mainstream, many patients have found relief and healing through these techniques.

Moxibustion: The process of burning dried mugwort, also known as moxa, on parts of the body or on needles inserted at acupuncture points. The warming and therapeutic properties of moxa is said to strengthen the immune system and to bring more qi (sometimes understood as blood flow) to a bodily area.

Tui na: A therapeutic form of massage to knead, roll, press, and rub at meridians, acupressure points, and groups of muscles and nerves.

Gua sha: A process to improve circulation by scraping the skin to stimulate microcirculation of the soft tissue

Reiki: A technique to regulate the qi in a person’s body by laying hands on the patient.

Cupping: The application of cups on the body to create suction and stimulate blood flow.

Integrative medicine and traditional chinese medicine

These holistic healing services are an approach to care, rather than specific healing practices.